It calls at shops and restaurants across the town in a bid to find its owner, eventually tracking down the little girl just in time to see the town's Christmas tree lights switch-on.

The film was made by Ballymena based Grafters Design Studio with the bear created by Michele Lowry of local gift shop Penny & Rose from linen supplied by Baird McNutt, also based in the town.

At nearly four minutes long the film is set to give the big budget productions produced by national stores such as Tesco and John Lewis a run for their money.

The advert shows off the best Ballymena has to offer after a year in which the town was hit by the devastating news of the closure of the Gallahers and Michelin factories, costing hundreds of jobs locally.